Cheetahs and Whales and Circles, Oh My!: An Interview with ANGERME

ANGERME, formerly known as S/mileage, was formed in 2009, and had their first release in their rebranded form in 2015. Since then, they’ve excelled and grown as individuals, culminating in their first-time performance within Mexico. We had the distinct pleasure of interviewing them before their concert, which you can enjoy below.

A-to-J: Thank you very much for having this interview with us today. We are very happy to be here. To begin, please introduce yourselves.
Takeuchi:Yes, I’m Takeuchi Akari. I am the leader. Thank you for having us.
Nakanishi: I’m Nakanishi Akari. I love to cook.
Katsuta: I’m Katsuta Rina. I’ll be graduating on September 25th.
Murota: I’m Murota Mizuki. I will embark onto global fame.
Sasaki: I’m Sasaki Rikako. I’m proud of my eyebrows.
Kamikokuryo: I’m Kamikokuryo Moe. I’ll be twenty soon.
Kasahara: I’m Kasahara Momona, I’m energetic everyday.
Funaki: I’m Funaki Musubu. I’m small.
Kawamura: I’m Kawamura Ayano. I like to fillet fish.
Oota: I’m Oota Haruka. I like to eat cucumbers.
Ise: I’m Ise Layla. People say I’m an airhead, but I’m not.

A-to-J: Thank you very much. Is this the first time you’ve come to Mexico? How do you like it in Mexico so far?
Takeuchi: Yes, this is truly our first time in Mexico for all of the members. It’s very fun. The city and each and every building is so cute. Everytime we go out we’re taking pictures everywhere. We keep on saying that we don’t want to go home.

A-to-J: That makes us very happy. I understand you haven’t had many interactions with the Mexican fans yet, but what are some thoughts on them opposed to your fans from back in Japan?
Kasahara: When we arrived in the airport in Mexico, there were already so many people waiting for us. They were all so energetic! They all expressed their love for ANGERME with loud cheers and huge smiles. Japan’s fans are energetic too, but everyone in Mexico has sparkling smiles and they’re so charming.
A-to-J: Thank you so much.

A-to-J: So far Juice=Juice and Morning Musume. has been to Mexico recently, but has any of those members given you advice about coming here?
Murota: Ishida Ayumi from Morning Musume. told me that even if I get too hyped up I shouldn’t dance too intensely from the beginning because of the high altitude. We definitely intend on getting very hyped up, but I have to be careful of my tendency to over do the dancing. She advised me to be excited for the exciting parts and just be careful. I’ll try my best to not be worn out.

A-to-J: There are members that went to the previous Paris concert, but what are some things you found challenging about performing overseas?
Kamikokuryo: I think it’s the MC part with how to convey what you’re trying to express is difficult. But still fans would understand the nuances. Even if we speak in Japanese, they will reply with “Yay!!” so we are very thankful for that.

A-to-J: Are there any interesting happenings or episodes of your hotel roommates?
Funaki: This time I’m in the same room as Kawamura Ayano. We didn’t necessarily match on purpose, but we ended up having the same pajamas! In different colors. (All the members are surprised.) It kind of seems like we came to just enjoy a vacation, and it’s a little bit embarrassing but I already took pictures so I’ll upload them onto our blogs soon.

A-to-J: We look forward to it. Also, is everyone okay with the jetlag?​
Everyone: Oooooh.
Katsuta: Nope.
Sasaki: Especially the first day.
Kamikokuryo: Everyone woke up too early so we video called each other.
A-to-J: From your separate rooms?
Kamikokuryo: Yes yes.

A-to-J: Have you guys had traditional Mexican food already? Was there anything that you liked particularly or remember?
Nakanishi: The dish called guacamole was so good we ate it several times. I’d like to make that at home too.
Sasaki: I like spicy food so I love eating with all the chili sauces. I think I can definitely do Mexican food.
A-to-J: Aren’t the salsas pretty spicy?
Sasaki: They are. I’d like to challenge even more spicy ones.
Nakanishi: Oh also cheese! We ate a lot of cheese. The type that you dip.
(Interpreter): Like Oaxacan cheese.

A-to-J: I believe you guys have already gone to see the Pyramid of the Sun, but how did you like it?​
Katsuta: The Pyramid of the Sun was so tall I couldn’t believe we could climb the whole thing. But we all supported each other and we were able to reach the top together. I understood that it was possible because of our support for each other and I’m glad I was able to make such memories at a traditional, historical place like that.

A-to-J: That sounds like such a ‘seishun film’ (this is a type of young teen/adult coming of age film). But wasn’t it especially challenging going up the pyramid with it being so high in altitude?
Katsuta: Yeah, also it was super hot.

A-to-J: Where’s the next country you’d like to visit?
Ise: The Senpais have already gone, but I would like to go to France.
Murota:A lot of the members like Italian food, so I’d like to go visit Italy.
Takeuchi: Pasta! Pasta!
A-to-J: Oh yes, Katsuta-san like’s pizza right?
Katsuta: Oh, I’m surprised you know. I love pizza.

A-to-J: So I’ve got some pressing questions for Katsuta-san. Your graduation is coming up, what is your most memorable moment in Hello! Project? And what are everyone else’s memorable moments with Katsuta-san?
Katsuta: Well hmm. I’ve been a part of this for so long it’s hard to choose one moment, and also I’ve experienced so many amazing moments during that time. I do think a big part of it is being able to go overseas. Being able to experience the different reactions from fans overseas and just being exposed to new cultures are personally some of my favorite memories away from being just an idol. It was such a blessing to experience that with my members all together. I don’t think I’ll be able to experience something like it again. It was such a precious time I was able to spend. Coming to different countries is definitely one of my number one memories.

A-to-J: Speaking for the fans, we are so honored to be able to share those memorable times with you.
Murota: I have so many memories with Katsuta-san, but out of them being able to witness the interactions between Takeuchi-san and Katsuta-san are some of my favorites. Takeuchi-san wouldn’t even be goofing off (being comedic) but Katsuta-san would retort back (comedically) at her. It doesn’t happen often you know? I believe it’s possible because of the amount of trust they have, and Take-san never gets mad too.
Katsuta: She’s actually enjoying it.
Takeuchi: No way!
Murota: Oh you’re enjoying it? Well yeah, I’ll miss being able to witness those interactions on stage. It’s something you can only see now with the limited time left.

A-to-J: We will definitely look out for those moments. Also, what do you plan to do after your graduation Katsuta-san?
Katsuta: Hm, after graduating I plan to stay in the industry, and hope to work around fashion related scenes. I studied fashion in college, so I hope to continue using those skills and continue to stay on stage as well. I want to make use of the skills I learned both being in ANGERME and school. It’ll be a different type of stage, but I’d love to go abroad again for work. I really love traveling abroad. Hopefully I can come again for a fashion related project.

A-to-J: We look forward to it. Now, please tell us your favorite ANGERME songs?
Kawamura: I like Taiki Bansei. It’s the definition of ANGERME and we are known for that song. Even when we perform the song overseas, the crowd will yell back ‘Taiki Bansei’ and it makes me happy. I love it.

Oota: I like the song called Tomo yo. This song makes me feel like it brings everyone together into one and I like its lyrics.
Ise: I like the song called Kousaten. It’s a bit sad and it’s about someone leaving so there are some sad parts to it, but it also has parts about new beginnings and I like it.
(Takeuchi was kind of surprised about the choice.)

A-to-J: I love Kousaten too. So there are many groups within Hello! Project, but what’s different about ANGERME? What’s unique?
Katsuta: Everything is different first of all, but ANGERME is just very free. Everyone is together and we all believe that we are the best. I love that. We always talk about how fun we’re having when we spend time together. It’s not that other groups aren’t like that, but I really love how we’re able to do that. I sincerely am happy that I am a part of ANGERME.

A-to-J: Are there any Hello! Project songs you’d like to perform in the future that you haven’t already?
Oota: BEYOOOOONDS’ Megane No Otoko no Ko! That song has a role for each person and it seems very fun to think about who will do who.
A-to-J: Ooh I’d love to see that. Adding to that, are there any other groups’ costumes that you’d like to wear?
Nakanishi: I’d like to try on Morning Musume.’s Pyoko Pyoko Ultra’s chic costumes with everyone.
A-to-J: Neat, who would be the mother hen?
Nakanishi: It would be Takeuchi Akari-chan.
Takeuchi: I knew you’d say that---

A-to-J: If you could compare the members to animals, what would everyone be?
Takeuchi: Ah- What was I?
Kamikokuryo: I’m a meerkat!
Takeuchi: Funa-chan is a hamster.
Katsuta: No a squirrel!
Kamikokuryo: Sasaki-san is a tiger?
Everyone: Cheetah? Lion? Some type of those.
Sasaki: *Motions as a tiger.*
Takeuchi: Momona is Pumba! From Lion King.
Kasahara: Pumba so a boar...?
Katsuta: How about a whale?
Kasahara: Then a whale.
Katsuta: Ise Layla is a sloth!
Takeuchi: And, Oota Haruka is a kappa.
Kamikokuryo: Japanese monster.
A-to-J: Because she likes cucumbers I see.
Kawamura: I’m told that I’m a giraffe.
Murota: The skinniness of a giraffe!

Katsuta: Or like a fawn.
Everyone: Ahhh--
Kawamura: Then Kawamura is a fawn.
Murota: What am I like?
Takeuchi: Like a dog.
Katsuta: Like a monkey.
Murota: So then a dog monkey...
Takeuchi: (Katsuta is) a sheep?
Murota: Katsuta-san is a poodle.
Kamikokuryo: Katsuta-san looks like such a poodle!
Nakanishi: How about Kana?　
Takeuchi: Kana is a gorilla.
Kasahara: Takeuchi-san is a circle.

A-to-J: If you were a pro baseball player, what would your walk-out song be?
Sasaki: Yes! It would be Taiki Bansei!
Kasahara: The footsteps in Tsugitsugi Zokuzoku!
Takeuchi: Mine’s Natsu Shogun.
Sasaki: Everyone will spin their towels along.

A-to-J: Wow that sounds like a blast. Next, social media and YouTube has made it very easy for fans around the world to discover you as a group. Is there anything you’d like to do next to reach out to your foreign fans more?

Takeuchi: How about Murota that’s embarking to global fame?
Murota: Hmm what is it. The fun part of ANGERME is not even abnormal (ijyou) when a song comes on and we play along with it. I want to spread those more.
Kamikokuryo: You mean not normal?
Murota: Not normal! (extraordinary?) So I want to spread how fun we are through music more.
A-to-J: Okay, how should we do so?
Murota: There are things like copyrights... so if we can use them freely...
A-to-J: I guess we have to start by changing the rules haha.
Murota: I would like to work hard.

A-to-J: Finally, do you have anything you’d like to say to all your foreign fans?
Takeuchi: Yes we do. Everyone in ANGERME really likes to be abroad, so we’d like to do concerts in different countries even more. We’ll have to work hard to do so. Also, each and every member is very strongly unique, so if someone finds the group ANGERME, I’m sure they’ll like at least one of us. We’ll work hard so more and more people will get to know us all over the world. Plus, there’s a member that couldn’t come with us this time, our newest member Hashisako Rin-chan. We’d like to go abroad again with her. Please look forward to it.
Everyone: Please look forward to it.

A-to-J: Thank you so much for your time and effort today!
Everyone: Thank you very much.

NOTE: You can read our companion article covering the concert itself HERE.

You can also check out information about what's going on in the world of Hello! Project in their official English Facebook page: Up-Front Link.

This interview was conducted by Konomi Kawamoto with assistance from Teepu Khan.

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ANGERME is:
​- Akari Takeuchi (竹内朱莉) Leader - Blue
- Kana Nakanishi (中西香菜) Sub-Leader – Light Pink
- Rina Katsuta (勝田里奈) [Graduated Sep. 25, 2019] – Orange
- Mizuki Murota (室田瑞希) – Light Blue
- Rikako Sasaki (佐々木莉佳子) – Yellow
- Moe Kamikokuryo (上國料萌衣) – Aqua Blue
- Momona Kasahara (笠原桃奈) – Deep Pink
- Musubu Funaki (船木結) – Yellow-Green
- Ayano Kawamura (川村文乃) – Light Purple
- Haruka Oota (太田遥香) – Bright Green
- Layla Ise (伊勢鈴蘭) – Light Orange
- Rin Hashisako (橋迫鈴) [Not Present for Concert] – Pure Red

*Photo credit goes to Konomi Kawamoto and Teepu Khan.

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